Can changing mechanism for textile machines



Oct. 16, 1951 O, Q HINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Aprl 5, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1951 0, Q HlNSQN 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 2 00L/s C. H//Vo/V Oct. 16, 1951 oA c. HINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4Sheecs-Sheerl 3 l y glnzen l T ya 000.5 (I. H/No/v Oct. 16, 1951 O. QHINSON 2,571,880

CAN CHANGING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 5, 1945 4Sheets-Sheet 4 NA /IV Moro/ Patented Oct. 16, 1951 CAN CHANGINGMECHANISM FOB TEXTILE MACHINES Odus C. Hinson, Cramerton,

N. C., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to The Terrell Machine Company, Charlotte, N. C., acorporation of North Carolina Application April 5, 1945, Serial No.586,651

11 Claims. 1

This invention has at its object the provision of novel and improvedmeans for automatically transferring the delivery of sliver produced bya combing machine, card, drawing frame, or other textile machine, from afull can to an empty can when the first of such cans become filled tocapacity.

In various textile machines which deliver their product in sliver form,it is common to provide in connection with the coller mechanism whichcoils the sliver into cans at the delivery end of the machine, a stopmotion device which stops the machine when the can into which the sliveris being coiled becomes filled to capacity. While the action of thisstop motion prevents overflow and consequent disorder and damage of thesliver, it leaves the machine stopped yand idle until the attendantshall note the condition, remove the full can and replace it by an emptycan, and restart the machine by hand.

To prevent this loss of machine time and production, the inventionprovides self-acting means automatically stopping the machine after apredetermined measured length of sliver has been coiled into one can,transferring the delivery of sliver to an adjacent empty can, and againrestarting the machine and the coiling mechanism to deliver the samemeasured quantity of sliver into the empty can. Thereby the productionof the machine is interrupted only for the few seconds involved inshifting the delivery means from the full can to the empty can, with nodependence on the attention of the operator, who is thus given the fulllength of the prolonged period required to fill the empty can duringwhich to remove the filled can and put an empty one in place inreadiness for the next shift.

To these ends, the invention comprises in its preferred and completeform 'a plurality of rotated can-supports, and a coiling deviceshiftable from a position above acan located on one of such supports toa position above a can located on another of such supports, the shiftingof such coller mechanism being effected by power means actuated bydevices which measure the length of sliver delivered, and which powermeans also interrupt the driving of the machine producing the sliver,the shifting means being contrived to restart such main drive at thecompletion of the shifting movement. Preferably also, the driving of therotating can-supports is selectively shifted and conned to the one whichholds the can then being filled.

Other objects of the invention, and the manner of their attainment areas set forth hereinafter.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan View.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the driving means for the rotatingcan-supports. t

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical controls and connections used.

Fig. 6 shows the counter mechanism which calls the can change.

The invention is shown applied to the delivery end of a multiple headcotton combing machine, oi' which the uprights supporting the workingparts (not shown) of a single comber head are indicated at I las mountedon a longitudinal frame-member 3 supported on legs 5. At 1 is indicatedthe sliver table along which the slivers from the several heads aredrawn in parallel relation by drafting rolls located in the draw-box 3,the slivers being gathered into one as they leave the draw-box by atrumpet II through which the resulting single sliver is drawn bycondensing rolls I3, all as heretofore.

In accordance with the invention, the single sliver emerging from rollsI3 travels upwardly and over a quadrant-shaped guide I 5 fixed on thenovel shifting coller head Il of the invention, passing over the topsurface thereof, around a cylindrical guide I8 in one working positionof head I1, and down through a rimmed aperture I9 in the top of ahousing 2I and between a pair of opposing calender rolls 23 fixed onshafts 25 mounted in bearings 2l within the housing, the shafts beinggeared together by pinions 29 to turn in unison in opposite directionsand one thereof being driven by bevel gears 3| from vertical shaft 33within a hollow column or housing 35 suitably mounted on the end frameof the combing machine and constituting a support for the coller head.The sliver is drawn downward by the rolls 23 and fed into the axiallylo'cated upper end of the usual outwardly and downwardly inclined spout31 integrally formed in the coiling member 39 rotatably mounted in itshousing 4I and driven from a spur gear 43 fixed on vertical shaft 33through an idler gear 45 engaging with teeth on the periphery of coilermember 39. The sliver emerging from the spout is thus laid in the usualcoiled relation into one of the cans 41, positioned in slightlyeccentric relation to the coller member. A lip 49 of the housing 4Iextends out over the can mouth, to hold down the coiled sliver when thecan becomes filled beyond the level of its mouth. Housing 2I is hingedto houslar movement, at

' motor, restarting the and is provided with a knob 53 lifted up andswung back in ing 4| at 5|, whereby it can be threading un. .g l

To provide for `automatically shifting the delivery from a full can toan 'empty can, the coiler head is mounted to swing horizontally aboutthe axis of the column 35, by forming the top portion of such columnwith a tubular extension or hub 51 of reduced diameter, which hub fitseasily within a corresponding sleeve 59 bolted by means of its flange 6|to the bottom of housing 4|, so that the coiler head can swingabout theaxis of the column. To swing the coiler head, a rod 63 is fixed in a hub65 forming a part of plate 8l cf the head and also in a hub B1 in theend of one arm of a lever 69 mounted free on shaft 33 by means of itscentral hub 1| and an extended bushing 13 fixed therein. Rod |53 isconnected at about midlength to a link 15 which has a hub 11 fittingaround the rod and supported by a collar 19 xed on the rod. The otherend of this link is connected b v a clevis 8| and pin 83 with an ear ona hub 85 rotatably mounted on a pin 81 fixed in the end of a crank arm89 rotated a half turn, when can change is needed, in any appropriatemann-er, herein by fixing the crank arm on a .iackshaft on which a wormgear 90 is fixed within a reduction gear box 9|, such gear being drivenby a Worm 92 on the shaft 93 of a small electric motor 95.

The energizing of motor 95 is controlled by a yardage counter 91 ofknown or any preferred design which is driven by shaft 99 conventionallydriving the lower calender rolls mounted in the sliver table 1 at thefront of the pan which receives the combed web from each combing head. Afamiliar form of hunting tooth type of textile counter is herein usedfor the purpose, comprising a pair of intermeshing gears |80, |82, Fig.6, one of which has one more tooth than the other, so that when drivenby a pinion |84 on shaft 99 the two strikers |86 respectively fixed onthe two gears will come together at the end of a long series of turns ofshaft 99. This thrusts gear |82 away from gear |80 which latter ismounted on a fixed center, gear |82 being carried on a pivot |80 ilxedin the forked end of a lever |90 swinging on fixed pivot |92 andhaving-ria screw |94 fixed in its other end the head of which engagesthe plunger |98 of switch |98 normally in on" position. Actuation ofswitch |98 is momentarv only, as the momentum of the parts carriesstrikers |86 past centers far enoughso that pull spring 200 anchored at202 swings lever |90 reversely and restores gears |80, |82 to ful'imesh. After the number of revolutions of this calender roll shaftcorresponding to the predetermined yardage of sliver desired to be putinto each can 41, counter 91 acts in described manner to interrupt thecurrent supply to the main motor driving the comber and simultaneouslycloses a circuit supplying electric current to motor 95, which runsuntil crank 89 has been given a 180 anguwhich instant aV switch inreduction gear box 9| actuated bv the movement of the worm gear opensthe circuit to can-change motor 95 and closes the circuit of the maincombing machine. The 180 movement imparted to crank 89 is transmittedthrough link 15 to move rod 63 bodily sid-ewise, swinging the entirecoiler head |1 through substantially 80 of angular movement` about theaxis of column 35, thus moving the coiler member 39 and its spout fromover the filled can and into a position over the empty can to deliverits sliver into the empty can, In the bevel gears course of this shift,since the delivery of sliver from the spout is stopped at the moment,the sliver parts at a point between the spout and the top of the coiledmass extending up from the mouth of the filled can and pressing againstthe under side of housing 4|.

As heretofore, the can being filled is rotated about an axis eccentricto that about which the delivery end of the spout 31 revolves, and forthis purpose, a turn-table |00 is provided to support each can, having araisedflange |02 to receive the base of the can. To rotate thesecanholders, a pinion |0| is fixed on the foot of vertical shaft 33,which pinion meshes with the larger gear |03, of a compound gearrotating on a pin |05 fixed in the end of a lever |01 swinging freelyabout shaft 33, so that the smaller gear |08 of the compound gear mesheswith that one of the two large gears |09 respectively connected with agiven turn-table |00 when the coiler head |1 is in delivery positionover the can on such turntable. A lost-motion connection comprising aradial arm ||0 rigid with arm 69 and swinging between upstanding flanges||2 on lever |01 reduces the angular displacement of such lever to thatneeded to make the gear change. Thus, when the coiler head is shiftedfrom over a filled can to a position over an empty can, the gear drivelocated in the turn-table platform is shifted from the turn-table |00holding the full can to the turn-table supporting the empty can, and thelatter can is duly revolved while the coiler head delivers the sliverthereinto, the filled can remaining at rest. Gears |09 are respectivelyfixed on stub-shafts ||3 rotatably mounted in suitable bearings inconnection with platform I and forming the rotatable supporting anddriving means for the turn-tables |00.

The drive for the coiler mechanism is taken from any going part of themachine to which the automatic can-changing device is applied. Hereinthe drive is obtained from the end of the halflap shaft ||4, Fig. 3, ofthe combing machine, by extending the jackshaft ||5 driving the drawingrolls in draw box 9 so that it extends from within gear-box I0 intocoiler column 35, where it imparts rotation to vertical shaft 33 bymeans of I1. A third bevel gear |l9 meshing with the one on shaft 33 isemployed to transmit motion by way of an added jackshaft |2|, Fig. 2,and intervening chain |23 and sprockets located within a guard |25 tothe shaft |21 of lower calender roll I3.

The details of the electrical controls and connections employed to causethe device to work in the manner described are shown in Fig. 5. Afterthe comber has run long enough to put the intended amount of sliver intothe can being filled, the yardage counter 91 acts to close itscircuit-maker momentarily, current from the 550- volt 3-phase line |3|passing through the closed manually operated cutout switch |33 andstepped down to 12 volts by transformer |35 energizes the coil of amagnetic switch |31 to close a second circuit energizing the motor withllO-volt current obtained from the low side of transformer |39. Motor95, as previously explained, shifts the coiler head |1 from over thefull can to a position over the empty can, by means of worm 92 upon itsshaft 93 engaging with worm gear 90 located within housing 9| and xed onthe shaft of crank 89. On this same shaft carrying the worm gear andcrank 89 there is also fixed a contact disk |4| connected to ground andhaving a circular periphery provided with two diametrically oppositenotches |43 cut deeply therein. A

contact-maker |45 to engage the full-diameter periphery of disk |4| isconnected with that end of the coil of switch |31 that is connected withthe yardage counter. Thus when yardage counter 91 momentarily completesthe circuit through switch |31 to start motor 95, the contact-maker |45makes contact with the rim of disk |4| as soon as the motor sarts, thusholding switch |31 closed and the motor energized, in spite of thereopening of the circuit in yardage counter 91, until the worm gear 90and disk |4| have completed a half-turn, whereupon the alternate notch|43 arrives opposite contact-maker |45, opening the circuit throughswitch |31 and thereby opening the motor circuit to stop the driving ofcrank 09 after 180 of travel.

In`order to stop the combing machine while the shift of the coiler headis being accomplished. a main switch |41 is interposed in the leadscarrying the 550-volt current to the main motor which drives the combingframe, this switch being spring-biased to remain normally open butmechanically connected with the armature of a solenoid |49 in a circuitfed by the 550-volt leads. so that when the solenoid is energized themain motor switch |41 will be closed, and when the solenoid isdeenergized the main switch will again open automatically. Solenoid |49is normally energized by a circuit comprising wire |59 from one of theleads |3| beyond the main motor switch |41, and wire |60 from another ofthe leads |3| before main motor switch |41, this circuit including thewinding of the solenoid and a circuit closer |54 of commercial designforming no part of my invention (Cat. No. CR2960- SY-70R of GeneralElectric Co.s catalog GEA- 606L, copyrighted 1943), having a contactor|58 normally making contact with the terminal of wire |60 to keep thesolenoid energized and main switch |41 closed while the combing frame isrunning. When the coil of switch |31 is energized to close its contactor|53 to supply current to the coiler-shifting motor 95, a non-conductingmechanical linkage or interlock |5| between contactor |53 and theoperating handle of circuit closer |54 opens contactor |58 thereof tobreak the circuit through the solenoidel and allow spring |6| to openthe switch |41 to stop the main motor driving the combing frame. As soonas the rotation of contact plate |4| has again opened the circuitthrough magnetic switch |31 and allowed rcontactor |53 to open thecircuit through motor 95, the mechanical linkage 5| acts on circuitcloser |54 to restore contactor |58 to closed position in contact withthe terminal of wire |60, and at the same time to make only momentarycontact between such terminal and a second contactor |55 which isconnected to a wire |56 attached to the same lead |3| as wire |59, butattached thereto at the other side of main motor switch |41. Current isthereby momentarily supplied bv the contactor |55, located withincircuit closer |54, to solenoid |49 to close main switch |41 and restartthe combing machine, thereby reestablishing the holding circuit throughwire |59 and the solenoid to keep main switch |41 closed. A secondcircuit closer |62 identical with |54 is provided in series multiplewith the latter in wires |56, |60, for manual starting and stopping ofthe combing frame.

While I have illustrated and described a certain form in which theinvention may be embodied, I am aware that many modications may be madetherein by any person skilled in the art,

without departing from the scope oi' the invention as expressed in theclaims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the particular i'ormshown, or to the details of construction thereof, but what I do claimis:

1. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combinationa machine producing sliver, means coiling the sliver into a can, meansstopping the driving of such machine upon delivery of a predeterminedamount oi.' sliver, means transferring the delivery of sliver from suchcan to an adjacent can, and means restarting the machine to produce moresliver after the transfer has been effected.

2. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination amachine producing sliver, driving means therefor, means coiling thesliver into a can, means transferring the delivery of sliver from suchcan to an adjacent can, driving means for the transferring means, anddevices effecting alternating and successive operation of the twodriving means after each delivery oi' sliver for a predetermined periodof the operation of the machine.

3. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination amachine producing sliver, a coiler head having a revolving spout ceilingthe sliver into one of a plurality of cans, means supporting the coilerhead for movement from a position in which it delivers the sliver intoone of such cans to a position in which it delivers the sliver intoanother of such cans, and means stopping the production of sliver upondelivery of a predetermined amount of sliver, then effecting the saidmovement of the coiler head, and then restarting the machine.

4. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination amachine producing sliver, can-holders each supporting a can withcapacity for rotation about a separate xed axis coinciding with the axisof such can, means delivering sliver` into the several cans insuccession, power driving means rotating the can-holders about the saidaxes and means successively putting said power driving means in drivingconnection solely with the can-holder supporting the can receiving thedelivery of silver.

' 5. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combinationa machine producing sliver, a shiftable coiler head having a revolvingspout coiling the sliver into a can, can-holders each supporting a canwith capacity for rotation, driving means for rotating the can-holders,and means shifting the coiler head from a position over one can to aposition over another can and establishing driving connection with theparticular can-holder supporting the latter can.

6. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans comprising in combination amachine producing sliver, a shiftable coiler head having a revolvingspout coiling the sliver into a can, can-holders each supporting a canwith capacity for rotation, means driving the coiler head and onecanholder from the machine, means stopping the driving of the machine,the coiler head, and the can-holder upon completion of a predeterminedperiod of operation. and means actuated by said stopping means shiftingthe coiler head to a pomeans supporting such head for swinging movementabout a vertical axis, and power means inf-V depen/dent of the actuationof the said machine swin/ging the coiler head about such axis.

8. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combinationa machine producing sliver, a coiler head having a revolving spout,means supporting such head for swinging movement about a vertical axis,a link connected to the head in eccentric relation to such axis, andpower means reciprocating the link transversely of such axis andpositively actuating the link in both directions of its movement.

9. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combinationa machine producing sliver, a coiler head driven thereby having arevolving spout, means supporting such head for swinging movement abouta vertical axis, canholders each supporting a can with capacity forrotation, meansselectively driving the can-holders, and power meansindependent of the driving of the coiler and its revolving spoutshifting the coiler head from over one can to a position over anothercan and also putting the holder of the latter can in driving connectionwith its driving means.

10. Apparatus for delivering sliver into cans, comprising in combinationa machine producing sliver, means coiling the sliver into a can, meansstopping the driving of such machine after each delivery of sliverthroughout a predetermined length of operation of the machine, meanstransferring the delivery of sliver from such can to an adjacent can,and means restarting the machine to produce more sliver after thetransfer has been effected.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,473 Tatham Mar. 28, 1882 20587,267 Meats et al July 27, 1897 998,375 Morton July 18, 1911 1,012,894Morton Dec. 26, 1911 1,571,060 Naumberg Jan. 26, 1926 1,957,241 Bee May2, 1934 25 2,011,019 Suffern Aug. 13, 1935 2,082,864 Whitin June 8, 19372,183,575 Lieberknecht Dec. 19, 1939 2,269,463 Lieberknecht Jan. 13.1942 3 FOREIGN PATENTS o Number Country Date 231 Great Britain of 18624,847 Great Britain of 1881

